Garment display rack



GARMENT DISPLAY RACK Maurice Cohen, Miami, Fla.

Application January 13, 1953, Serial No. 331,033 '5 Claims. (Cl. 211-165) The present invention relates to a garment display rack. More particularly, the present invention relates to a garment display rack which incorporates a unitary rotatable .upper assembly that is detachably mounted on a fixed lower assembly.

Prior to the instant invention, the heretofore known garment display racks have generally been constructed 'such that the rack display structure has been stationary. These heretofore known stationary racks not only detract from the surrounding furnishings, but present a distinct merchandising disadvantage in that valuable floor space .is consumed by having to display garments on the rack in a manner that they all can be readily observed and handled. It is essential from a merchandising point of view that in a retail store the greatest amount of floor space be available without crowding the necessary display units. Rotatable garment display racks have been found to be the solution to the problem of conserving valuable floor space, and can be so installed as to enable customers to survey and handle the merchandise at will and without crowding each other. Moreover, the number of customers that can be accommodated around a rotatable rack is materially increased, thereby ofiering a distinct advantage in sales promotion. It is known that rotatable racks have been employed heretofore for display purposes; however, none of the heretofore known rotatable display racks have been constructed with the view of not only displaying the merchandise to full advantage but of presenting an article that compliments the appearance of the store in which it is employed. Furthermore, the heretofore known rotatable racks have not been constructed with the view of withstanding the large loads that are present when the rack is filled to capacity with the garments to be displayed.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a garment display rack that is rotatable and is capable of withstanding heavy loads.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a garment display rack in which the upper assembly incorporates a drum formed in a unitary structure.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a rotatable garment display rack in which the drum construction of the upper assembly is provided with means for securing a plurality of hangers therein.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a rotatable garment display rack that has great rigidity and stability and is able to withstand heavy loads.

Other objects, and the nature and advantages of the instant invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

The, drawing is a vertical sectional view of the garment display rack embodied in the present invention.

Referring to. the. drawing, the present invention is illustrated and includes. a base generally indicated at 80. The base. assembly 80 comprises a weighted pedestal 82 which is secured toa suitable base or the floor by bolts 84 extending through openingsformed in the pedestal. A

2,895,621 Patented July 21, 1959 ice shaft 86 is mounted in a central opening in the pedestal 82 and is secured from rotation therewith. Mounted on the upper portion of the shaft 86 are bearing units 88 and 90 which are adapted to receive a hanger assembly generally indicated at 92. The hanger assembly 92 includes an upper plate 94 which has a central opening formed therein for receiving a bearing cup 95 in press-fitting relation therewith, the bearing cup 95 being formed as part of the bearing unit 90. A lower plate 96 having a central opening formed therein is adapted to be received by the bearing unit 88 in slip-fitting relationship therewith. The upper plate 94 and the lower plate 96 are secured to a cylindrical drum 98 by suitable means and form therewith a unitary drum assembly. A plurality of holes 100 are formed in the upper plate 96 near the peripheral edge thereof, each of the holes 100 receiving therein a downwardly depending upper end portion 102 of a hanger 104. In order to securely lock the end portions 102 of the hangers 104 in the plate 94 an upper disc 106 is provided, the upper disc 106 being secured to the plate 94 by speed lock nuts 108. Positioned between the upper plate 94 and the upper disc 106 is a thin spacer plate 110 which has a diameter measuring less than both the upper plate 94 and disc 106, thereby providing an outer annular space between the plate 94 and disc 106. The annular space provided by the shortened diameter of the spacer plate 110 enables the hanger ends 102 to extend into the openings 100 where they are locked in pivoted position by the overhanging upper disc 106. The lower plate 96 is also provided with a plurality of holes 112 formed near the peripheral edge thereof, each of the holes 112 receiving an upwardly extending end portion 114 of the lower end of the hanger 104. The lower end portions 114 of the hanger 104 are locked in pivoted position by a lock ring 116 which is secured to the lower plate 96 by bolts 11S. Wing nuts 120 engage the bolts 118 and securely lock a spacer plate 122 between the lower plate 96 and the lock ring 116. The spacer plate 122 has a smaller outside diameter than the lower plate 96 and lock ring 116 and an annular space is thereby provided between the lower plate 96 and the lock ring 116, for receiving the lower end of the hangers 104. The spacer plate 122 is also provided with a central opening equal in size to the opening formed in the lower plate 96 and thereby receives the bearing unit 88 in slip-fit relation along with the lower plate 96.

It is apparent that the invention illustrated in the drawing provides a garment display rack that is relatively simple to assemble, but that is sturdy in construction. The weighted pedestal is easily secured in position but may be moved with relatively little difiiculty by removing the bolts 84. The hanger assembly 92 is mounted for free rotation on the shaft 86 and can be removed therefrom for maintenance or shipping. The locking rings 106 and 116 for locking the hanger ends in the upper and lower plates 94 and 96, respectively, are secured in position in a simple manner and, furthermore, provide an effective and efiicient means for locking the hangers 104 in their pivoted position. By providing the cylindrical drum 93, the torsional loads present when the hangers 104 are pivoted are absorbed, thereby enabling heavy loads of garments to be displayed without affecting the operation of the rack.

The rack described herein is adaptable for a variety of display uses, being capable of displaying mans pants, womens slacks, skirts or blouses. It is furthermore contemplated to arrange compartmented shelves on the drum assembly for the display of socks, shirts and other wearing apparel. The rack described herein is extremely rigid and capable of carrying great loads. Furthermore, it is possible for each hanger member to carry more than a single garment without aliecting the rotation of the upper assembly. The drum arrangement provided between the upper and lower discs enables the tremendous loads of garments to be carried on the hangers without affecting the operation of the unit. This is accomplished by reason of the drum absorbing the torsional and com pressive loads created by the garments. The drum construction thereby obviates the use of unsightly heavy trusses or steel supports which are ordinarily utilized for carrying heavy loads in the heretofore known garment display racks. The present garment display rack not only displays the merchandise to their best advantage, but allow for freedom of movement in inspecting or replacing the garments on the hanger members. The hanger members utilized with the hanger assembly are securely and pivotally held in position in the drum assembly and are adapted to be replaced, as desired. The lower or base assembly adds stability to the hanger assembly, being more than adequate to carry the large bending loads present when the rack is completely loaded with the garments to be displayed. The drum assembly is furthermore constructed to withstand the tremendous torsional loads present when the rack is completely loaded and the hanger assembly is rotated during inspection of the V garments.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and, therefore, the invention is not limited to what is shown in the drawings and described in the specification, but only as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a garment display rack, a hanger assembly rotatably mounted on a shaft, said hanger assembly including a drum having an upper and lower plate secured therein, said upper and lower plates having a plurality of openings formed therein adjacent the periphery thereof, a plurality of hangers, each of which is formed with an upper horizontal arm and a lower inclined arm, said upper arms having downwardly extending end portions that project through the openings in said upper plate and into the interior of said drum, said lower inclined arms having upwardly extending end portions that project through the springs in said lower plate and into the interior of said drum, a lower locking disc secured to said lower plate and engaging the lower portion of said inclined arms for locking the lower upwardly extending hanger ends in said lower plate, and an upper locking disc secured to said upper plate and engaging a portion of said horizontal arms for locking the downwardly extending hanger ends on said upper plate, said drum and upper and lower locking discs being formed of substantially equal diameters.

2. In a garment display rack, a hanger assembly rotatably mounted on a shaft and including a hollow drum, an upper plate secured to said drum at the upper end thereof and'located entirely within the confines of said drum, a lower plate secured to said drum at the lower end thereof and located entirely within the confines of said drum, said upper and lower plates having a plurality of openings formed therein adjacent the periphery thereof, a plurality of hangers each of which is formed with an upper horizontal arm and a lower inclined arm, said upper arms having downwardly extending end portions that project through the openings in said upper plate and into the interior of said drum, said lower inclined arms having upwardly extending end portions that project through the openings in said lower plate and into the interior of said drum, a lower locking disc secured to said lower plate and engaging the lower portion of said inclined arms for locking the lower upwardly extending hanger ends in said lower plate, and an upper locking disc secured to said upper plate and engaging a portion of said horizontal arms for locking the downwardly extending hanger ends on said upper plate, said drum and upper and lower locking discs being formed of substantially equal diameters.

3. In a garment display rack, a hanger assembly rotatably mounted on a shaft having bearing units secured thereto, said hanger assembly including a hollow cylindrical member, an upper plate secured to the upper end of said cylindrical member, a lower plate secured to the lower end of said cylindrical member and cooperating with said upper plate and cylindrical member to define an enclosed drum, said upper and lower plates having central openings formed therein for receiving said hearing units and having a plurality of openings formed therein adjacent the periphery thereof, a plurality of radially extending hangers secured to said upper and lower plates and defining means for supporting and displaying garments thereon, each of said hangers being formed with an upper horizontal arm and a lower inclinded arm joined to said horizontal arm at the outer end thereof, said upper arms being formed with downwardly extending end portions that project through the openings in said upper plate and into the interior of said drum, said lower inclined arms having upwardly extending end portions that project through the openings in said lower plate and into the interior of said drum, a lower locking disc secured to said lower plate and engaging the lower portion of said inclined arms for locking the upwardly extending hanger ends in said lower plate, and an upper locking disc secured to said upper plate and engaging a portion of said horizontal arms for locking the downwardly extending hanger ends in said upper plate, said upper locking disc defining the top of said rack.

4. In a garment display rack as set forth in claim 3, which includes an upper spacer plate positioned between said upper locking disc and said upper plate and defining an upper annular space for receiving said horizontal arms therein, and a lower spacer plate positioned between said lower locking disc and lower plate and defining an annular space for receiving the lower ends of said inclined arms therein.

5. In a garment display rack, a hanger assembly rotatably mounted on a shaft, said hanger assembly including a unitary hollow drum structure for carrying the compressive and torsional loads of the displayed garments as said hanger assembly is rotated, said drum structure being defined by a hollow cylindrical member and upper and lower plates secured to said cylindrical member in spaced relation, said upper and lower plates having a plurality of openings formed therein, a plurality of hangers pivotally mounted on said upper and lower plates and including an upper horizontal arm having downwardly extending end portions that project through the openings in said upper plate and into the interior of said drum, inclinded lower arms having upwardly extending end portions that project through the openings in said lower plate and into the interior of said drum, and means secured to said upper and lower plates for locking said hangers in said plates.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 24,427 7 Cohen Feb. 11, 1958 D. 92,695 Bear July 10, 1934 813,001 Holt Feb. 20, 1906 983,439 Harr Feb. 9, 1911 992,105 Batts May 9, 1911 1,049,886 Manson Ian. 7, 1913 1,575,775 Lesser Mar. 9, 1926 1,660,973 Oestreicher Feb. 28, 1928 1,695,322 Day Dec. 18, 1928 1,697,866 Hansen Jan. 8, 1929 1,886,389 Garner Nov. 8, 1932 2,076,522 Anderson l. Apr. 13, 1937 2,282,836 Vanderveld May 12, 1942 2,477,086 Ritfert July 26, 1949 2,701,646 Cohen Feb. 8, 1955 

